Latest news with #WhistlePigWhiskey
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
New CEO at WhistlePig Whiskey
US distiller WhistlePig Whiskey has named Charles Gibb as its new CEO. Gibb's appointment follows the departure of former CEO Jeff Kozak, who stepped down from the position to 'pursue other opportunities' in January. Following Kozak's departure, WhistlePig's board member Marty Birkel took on the role as interim CEO. In a statement, the Shoreham, Vermont-based distillery said Gibb's appointment comes at an 'inflection point' for the business and marks the 'next stage of evolution' for its WhistlePig brand and its 'super-premium' whiskey portfolio. Gibb has held previous roles at Fever-Tree, Bacardi, Diageo, and LVMH-owned Belvedere Vodka. Wilco Faessen, co-founder and chairman of WhistlePig Whiskey, said: 'Post an extensive search process, where we had an opportunity to consider various exceptional candidates, we are excited to welcome Charles to the WhistlePig team as we tackle the next phases of growth.' Just Drinks has asked WhistlePig Whiskey for an update on the company's latest financial results and share ownership but had not received a response at the time of writing. Gibb was credited with establishing Fever-Tree's operations in North America. WhistlePig Whiskey said he drove the mixer brand 'to the top of the ginger beer and tonic water charts', while broadening its relevance across a variety of consumption occasions. During his time at Belvedere Vodka, Gibb led global expansion initiatives, establishing partnerships such as Project RED and James Bond, 'elevating' the brand's worldwide presence, the rye and bourbon producer added. Gibb said: 'As a Scot, I could not be more excited to be joining this exceptional American whiskey brand. I thrive in an innovative, dynamic and entrepreneurial environment. 'I have been involved with start-ups, initiated new markets and transformed developed markets by breaking apart paradigms to accelerate growth. That is exactly what WhistlePig does with whiskey. We have the perfect mix to shake up the market. Or stir up, if you prefer.' "New CEO at WhistlePig Whiskey " was originally created and published by Just Drinks, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Business Wire
3 days ago
- Business
- Business Wire
WhistlePig Whiskey Welcomes New CEO Charles Gibb
SHOREHAM, Vt.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- WhistlePig Whiskey, the #1 leader in independent craft whiskey, today welcomes Charles Gibb, a dynamic leader in the spirits industry, as its new Chief Executive Officer. This appointment marks the next stage of evolution for the WhistlePig brand and its highly awarded super premium whiskey portfolio. Charles brings a wide breadth of global expertise to WhistlePig, particularly through the introduction of spirits and cocktail mixers to new audiences across various geographies. He launched Fever-Tree's North American arm, driving the mixer brand to the top of the ginger beer and tonic water charts while expanding their business to tackle multiple drinking occasions. Previously at Belvedere Vodka, Gibb spearheaded their global expansion efforts – establishing their Project RED and James Bond partnerships, and elevating the brand's presence worldwide. His tenure at Bacardi, Diageo and Moët Hennessy further underscores a career defined by strategic brand-building, innovation, and international market development. 'As a Scot, I could not be more excited to be joining this exceptional American whiskey brand. I thrive in an innovative, dynamic and entrepreneurial environment,' said Gibb. 'I've been involved with start-ups, initiated new markets and transformed developed markets by breaking apart paradigms to accelerate growth. That's exactly what WhistlePig does with whiskey. We have the perfect mix to shake up the market. Or stir up, if you prefer.' WhistlePig has never been limited by the way things are done. From transforming an abandoned Vermont dairy barn into a pioneering grain-to-glass distillery to crafting category-defining releases, the brand has taken American whiskey to a new level of quality and innovation. Over the past two years, WhistlePig broke new ground by expanding beyond its signature Ryes into aged Bourbon and super-aged Single Malt. Today, WhistlePig is the market leader in ultra-premium Rye and fastest-growing ultra-premium Bourbon in the US. Gibb joins the team at an inflection point: building on WhistlePig's market disruption, driving brand growth, and championing bold innovation to offer consumers the world's best whiskey. 'Post an extensive search process, where we had an opportunity to consider various exceptional candidates, we are excited to welcome Charles to the WhistlePig team as we tackle the next phases of growth,' said Wilco Faessen, Co-Founder and Chairman of WhistlePig Whiskey. 'We also want to express our gratitude to Marty Birkel for taking the reins as CEO on an interim basis to enable a thorough search, and the upcoming transition.' To learn more about WhistlePig Whiskey, visit You can also check out WhistlePig Whiskey on Facebook, X and Instagram. About WhistlePig Whiskey Located off the grid on a 500-acre Vermont farm, WhistlePig Whiskey is crafted by a new generation of whiskey makers driven to reinvent and unlock the flavor of whiskey, starting with Rye. Through rebellious pursuit of experimenting and breaking boundaries in the industry, WhistlePig has become the leading independent craft whiskey brand, awarded Best Rye Whiskey (SFWSC 2021). WhistlePig is committed to becoming the best whiskey both on and for the planet, starting with its solar-powered Farm and distillery, and local grain-to-glass operation. For more information, head to
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Trump's Tariffs Will Make It More Expensive To Drink Alcohol — Here's How
These days, the subject of Donald Trump's tariffs finds its way into just about any conversation about politics, the economy and life in general. These additional taxes on most items brought into the United States from other countries have caused a consumer panic, and those feelings of anxiety and uneasiness extend to the bar and restaurant business. Bar owners, beverage directors and spirits distributors must now grapple with what these tariffs mean for their business costs and their bottom lines. Raj Bhakta, founder of Bhakta Spirits and WhistlePig Whiskey, is actually a supporter of Trump's tariffs, and he thinks these policies may be worth the risk: 'We find ourselves in a moment of potential short-term pain for guaranteed long-term gain. This passing economic pinch will be a small price to pay for the American prosperity to come. I say all of this as a business owner willing to take the short-term hit now, personally, for the greater long-term good.' But the vast majority of beverage industry folks we interviewed don't have high hopes for these tariffs reaping any long-term benefits for their own businesses, or for the American public at large. 'We learned the lesson 100 years ago about tariffs, and it is deeply frustrating to revisit a topic that has been resoundingly denounced,' said Kristin Evans, general manager of Red Tail Ridge Winery in Penn Yan, New York. Evans allows that 'tariffs can be a part of an effective economic policy, but tariffs in and of themselves are not economic policy. They're just one piece of the puzzle.' So what exactly will these tariffs do to the beverage industry, to foreign and domestic producers, and to your bar tab? Read on to find out. Because the tariffs directly apply to products from other countries, it's no surprise that they will cause higher retail and bar prices for imported wines, beers and spirits. In 2022, 14% of all agricultural imports in the U.S. were from wine, spirits and beer, and 17% of the wine consumed in the U.S. comes from the European Union. The National Beer Wholesalers Association says that 21% of beer sold in the U.S. in 2023 was imported. 'The tariffs will make every sip more expensive. If importers have to pay more, then they will charge more,' said Kyle Davidson, wine and beverage director at Rose Mary and il Carciofo in Chicago. The fast rate of the tariff implementations has wreaked immediate havoc on businesses that rely on imports, causing them to reevaluate their needs and make some drastic changes. 'One of our best friends in the industry, someone that has given us great wines at great prices for years, had to tell two ships that were in the water to turn around. If they had landed while the tariff was at the proposed percentage, it would have put him out of business,' Davidson explained. Restaurants and bars that focus their concepts on international cuisines may find it difficult or impossible to pivot their beverage menu to domestic wines. Georgia Harrison, the logistics manager at Zev Rovine Selections, a natural wine importer and distributor based in Brooklyn, put it this way: 'The [restaurant] industry relies on beverage sales to keep things afloat.' These tariffs could put your favorite Italian, Spanish and Greek restaurants at serious risk of closure. Also, the higher prices on imports may hamper bartender creativity when it comes to designing new cocktails. 'Tariffs on imported spirits don't just raise prices — they restrict access to the global ingredients that define modern American cocktail culture. For example, if the Oaxacan mezcal we use becomes significantly more expensive or harder to source, that doesn't just affect bar costs — it limits creative expression for bartenders and founders like myself who rely on those flavors to innovate,' said Robert Haynes, cofounder of Hoste Cocktails and Apologue Liqueurs. It's easy to assume that, if prices go up on imported wines, spirits and beers, domestic producers will benefit from higher demand. But even if a wine, beer or spirit is made in the United States, many of the materials required for production, bottling and packaging come in from overseas. 'Increased tariffs on imported grains, hops and aluminum will drive up production costs for breweries, forcing them to raise beer prices, reduce profit margins or compromise on ingredient and packaging quality, ultimately affecting consumer affordability and the variety of craft beer available,' said Courtney White, owner of Intermission Beer Company in Richmond, Virginia. For wineries, 'packing materials, bottles, corks, oak barrels and bottling equipment are often imported for domestic wine production,' said Ted Rink, beverage director at BLVD Steakhouse in Chicago. Louis Kernans, director of operations at JW Marriott Dallas Arts District, added that 'bottles, corks and cartons can account for nearly a third of a small winery's budget, so tariffs on imported glass or natural cork squeeze margins and make distributors more cautious with niche domestic labels.' Speaking of distributors, it's important to recognize the role that these third-party groups play in the beverage industry and how tariffs on foreign products will fundamentally change the way that they do business. 'In the United States, you have to use a third-party distribution company to get your product out into the marketplace. That's how it's set up,' Evans said. While it's not generally required for wineries and distilleries to sell their products to restaurants and shops through a distributor, the three-tiered system (producer, distributor and retailer) that Evans described accounts for the vast majority of alcohol that you see on the market nowadays. Distributors make it easy for restaurants and bars to identify and acquire wines and spirits that fit their concept and price point, and they also help smaller producers raise their sales and visibility. But, as Evans explained to us, 'most distributors do not just focus on American wine [and spirits]. They have a book that contains wines from America, wines from South America, wines from Australia, wines from Europe and so on.' If a distributor has to deal with foreign tariffs 'on three-quarters of the products that they're selling, they're going to truncate the product lines they're representing, and they're only going to go with the products that are guaranteed best-sellers.' So instead of pushing wines and spirits made by artisanal producers making specialty bottles with great care and precision, distributors will put more energy and effort into promoting 'big wineries like Mondavi and E&J Gallo.' Tariffs will make it more expensive for distributors to get foreign wines and spirits into the U.S., but that doesn't just mean that they'll increase retail prices for those particular bottles. '[Distributors] can raise the prices of the items that they're getting tariffed on, but if [those] account for three-quarters of your products, then the easier route for the business would be to raise the prices across the entire spectrum of products that you provide,' Evans said. Dividing the increases among all of their items (both foreign and domestic) will allow the distributors to offer lower price rises on each individual wine/spirit, but you'll be paying more all the same. Harrison explained that wine and spirit prices have already been experiencing an upswing: 'Between rising costs from wineries and shipping costs driving sharply upward, we have been seeing retail costs climb steadily since 2020. No import company can absorb the additional 10% tariff — they will pass it along to their retail customers, who will pass it on to the consumer.' Harrison also told us that these pricing changes will impact a certain segment of the market in particular: 'Drinkers who stay within the $25-and-under range that are going to find their selections get smaller and potentially lower in quality, especially in the under-$20 zone. Wine already has a reputation for having a high barrier to entry, and I think we are going to see retail sales decline as people get priced out of their go-to bottles.' But what if you want to cut out the middleman, buy craft booze directly from a distiller, brewer or winemaker, and have it delivered to your house or to your restaurant? Théron Regnier, distiller and CEO at The Obscure in Los Angeles, pointed out that this idea isn't nearly as simple as it sounds. 'Interstate shipping is still restricted for craft distillers,' with rules varying wildly from state to state, so 'consumer choices are about to become scarce or expensive unless we see regulatory changes.' Trump's tariffs themselves have caused substantial anxiety throughout the beverage industry because of higher prices and reduced availability … but arguably the most frightening thing about these tariffs is their unpredictability. One day they're on, the next they're delayed, there are exceptions, there are exceptions to the exceptions — all of this volatility makes it nearly impossible for businesses of any kind (including hospitality businesses) to properly plan ahead. 'As we have all seen, tariffs have been forewarned, implemented and then retracted,' said Kisong Mun, sommelier at The Dearborn in Chicago. Mun added that it may take some time for the impact of tariffs to fully register with consumers, 'I think consumers might have a month or two before we start seeing big increases in pricing as inventory dwindles and the need to replace [it] becomes more pressing.' Even under the best of circumstances, overseas wine and spirits orders must be placed well in advance. 'If you're an importer and you're placing an order to Europe for wine, it has to get through the customs process on the port-of-exit side and it has to cross the ocean. So that's a month, two months? And oftentimes with wine, you're placing your orders a year in advance, especially when you're talking about fine wine like Bordeaux and Burgundy,' Evans said. And the big question, according to Harrison, is 'What will happen at the end of the 90-day pause and negotiation period in July? Will the 'reciprocal' tariffs come back? Will the universal tariffs go away? We are walking a tightrope between over-ordering in case of higher future tariffs and under-ordering to not spend thousands of additional dollars in customs fees and storage.' Harrison's prediction for the worst-case scenario? 'On the distribution side, smaller importers are not going to be able to afford to stay in business, and we will see fewer producers brought to the U.S. On the restaurant and retail side, businesses are going to struggle to stay open as their customer base struggles to afford the day-to-day necessities and can't go out to dinner or buy a bottle of wine on the way home from work. Either way, we are looking at businesses closing, jobs lost and access to wine and spirits' — both from other countries and from independent producers in the U.S. — 'hindered severely either by lack of market presence or price.' Experts Reveal Exactly How Trump's Tariffs Will Affect Food Prices — Particularly On Coffee U.S. Egg Prices Soar To Record High, Despite Trump's Prediction We're Economists. Here's What We Really Think Of Trump's Plan To 'Lower' Grocery Prices. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
